RSIT (Riding Staff-In-Training)

Gain valuable leadership skills and knowledge as you shadow the riding staff. Refine your riding skills and learn to work through problems on horseback. Horse health care, herd dynamics, and advanced horse behavior are just a few of the topics we’ll be covering. Develop lesson plans and your own teaching style as you lead a few lessons and activities for horse campers. Two sessions of intensive hands-on training at the corral and in workshops, a trip to see other horse programs, and job shadows combine to make a fabulous leadership experience. Intermediate-advanced horse experience required.

You’ll split your time between training sessions and workshops, hands-on experience with kids and staff members and enjoying camp activities while bonding with the other CITs and RSITs. Here’s a sample of what the RSIT training will look like:

First week
Get acquainted with camp and see some behind-the-scenes action of how camp runs. Tour the office, kitchen and maintenance areas and meet the staff who run camp all year long. Tour the barn, meet the riding staff, and learn more about Sealth's horseback riding program. Start to bond as a CIT/RSIT group as you take a trip to visit other camps with horse programs in Western Washington.

Second week
Participate in skills workshops on leadership, working with children and horses. Shadow the riding staff to learn about their job. As a group, you’ll complete a service project and earn the “Service to Sealth” patch. Learn more about horse care, riding safety and lesson-planning.

Third week
Get some real experience being a riding staff during a two-day “live-in”. You’ll assist a riding staff member during these two days, and teach and lead activities for younger campers. Then, wrap up your experience as a RSIT by leading Council Fire before heading home.

If you have questions about the CIT, RSIT, or other Teen Leadership programs, contact Camp Sealth at 206 463 3174, ext. 35. To apply, download the application form and send it in with your camp registration form.